DictionaryAI

role

noun
SayROHL/ɹoʊl/UK/ɹəʊl/

Pluralroles

Often confused with roll

6 meanings of role

Practice

  1. 1
    functionnouncountable
    The function or position that someone or something has within a larger system, process, or structure, such as a word within a phrase.

    Enzymes play a crucial role in breaking down food during digestion.

    The committee debated the role of government in the economy.

    UsageUsually something plays a role in something, often with an adjective: plays an important role in digestion.

  2. 2
    acting partnouncountable
    A character or part performed by an actor or other performer.

    The director offered her the role of a grieving mother.

    He prepared for the role by living in a fishing village for weeks.

    UsageAn actor plays a role, often the role of a character; the main part is the lead role.

    Similarpart, character

  3. 3
    job positionnouncountable
    A named position, as in an organization or a computer system, that comes with particular duties, expected skills and knowledge, or access privileges.

    The new employee's role included managing the budget and approving expenses.

    Administrators are assigned a role that grants access to sensitive records.

    UsageOften after the job's name, as in the project manager role, or with of: the role of team leader.

    Similarposition, post, job, capacity

    Note

    In access control a role is a named bundle of permissions assigned to users, so privileges can be granted or withdrawn for a whole group at once. That is why administrators talk of setting up roles and adjusting their default permissions.

  4. 4
    expected behaviornouncountable
    The expected behavior of an individual within a society or social group.

    Traditional gender roles assigned cooking and cleaning to women.

    He struggled to adjust to his new role as a father.

    UsageOften with as: his new role as a father; also common in the plural, as in gender roles.

    Similarplace, duty

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    noun
    A Raku code element similar to an interface that lets classes be composed with shared behavior without extending their inheritance chain.
  2. 6
    noun
    A historical unit of quantity equal to 72 sheets of parchment.

Practice

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Origin

This word comes from French rôle, earlier Middle French rolle and Old French role, which trace back to the Medieval Latin rotulus. It is a doublet of roll and rotulus.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  • Role comes through French rôle, Middle French rolle and Old French role from Medieval Latin rotulus. en.wiktionary.org
  • Role is a doublet of roll and rotulus. en.wiktionary.org